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Decorating a luxurious 20-by-40-foot great room in an 8,000-square-foot home that is perched on the picturesque ledge of forested ravine sounds like a dream assignment.

But, like all big spaces, it came with big décor challenges, says designer Sandra Nash.

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“People want the large spaces, and the big windows, but they don’t realize all the issues that go with it — the heating, acoustics, light control, how to make it feel homey and not industrial?” says Nash.

Then there’s the issue of scale.

“I put a big oversized sofa in and it looked like a piece of dolls’ house furniture. I almost started to cry because I realized how much furniture I would need.”

While beautiful, the dense foliage visible through banks of windows on two walls also made the huge room very dark.

Nash created a design plan that broke the space into manageable kitchen, dining and conversation “zones,” each of which shared elements of textiles, finishes and colour.

Painting the entire space out in a light-catching cream tone dispelled the dark shadows, while mirrored console and coffee tables bounced light into the room. Mirror-backed display cases did the same. They also balance windows on an opposite wall, and bring nature indoors by reflecting the leafy view.

“I love symmetry, so I also thought it was like adding windows without draperies,” she explains.

The dramatic linked pattern used on the draperies was a second choice. “Originally, I had something very neutral, but it didn’t work. I always buy three yards of the (drapery) fabric and pin it to the wall to look at it during the night and day. If I don’t like it, I can always use it somewhere else — maybe for a pillow.”

Lined with flannel to protect textiles and furniture from light (and to further dampen sound), the drapes are hung high. Otherwise, says Nash, the ceilings would appear lower and attention would be drawn away from the handsome vaulted ceiling buttressed with timber beams.

Their placement, says Nash, illustrates one of the paradoxes of big space design. Lots of space gives an impression of roominess, but leaving too much space can diminish the effect.

Left empty, a large peak above the fireplace looked undressed to Nash. So she added three stag heads to fill the space above.

To hide a television, she used a mount that “flips” to display artwork when not in use.

“In a big space, it’s always a balancing act,” says Nash. “But I think we got it right here.”

Photo Captions

Photo 1: BEFORE: Lots of windows, vaulted ceilings and an oversized floor-print can be design highlights, but they can also make a space look cavernous. PHOTO CREDIT: Jennifer MacIntosh, J MAC photography.

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